Winter Saloon 27 has left the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway although unlike fellow Winter Saloon 28 which departed earlier this month this is just a temporary move to allow for the tram to undergo attention and it will be back at Strathallan again later this year.
This is actually the second operational tram to have been lifted onto a trailer and leave Strathallan Depot this winter with Bulkhead 36 having also taken a trip for refurbishment early in the winter. It is believed that both remain on the Isle of Man where they are under attention to ensure that they remain operational for many years to come.
It is pleasing to see that the Department of Infrastructure through Isle of Man Railways are taking seriously their role as custodians of the historic Douglas Bay Horse Tramway with the trams seemingly enjoying the most extensive workshop attention for many years.
The Douglas Bay Horse Tramway’s depot at Strathallan remains cordoned off with fences in front of the doors due to the poor condition of the building. Plans to construct a temporary stable and depot on part of the old Summerland complex adjacent to the Manx Electric Railway Derby Castle terminus seem to have stalled and currently it is unclear where operations will be based from in 2017 (with the Summerhill stables having been up for sale over the winter, although the date for interested parties has now expired).
Services will resume on Saturday 8th April and the season will continue until Sunday 5th November although trams will not run every day during this period.